Over the past few weeks, my calendar has been flooded with scandals and parties – and no, I’m not talking about the upcoming elections around the world.
Bridgerton is back in all its opulent glory, with the second part of season 3 debuting on Netflix today. Somehow, I had avoided streaming success for a while. Period dramas aren’t really my thing, you see.
However, after trying it, I realized that it wasn’t like other historical shows such as Downtown Abbey and The Crown. Bridgerton takes all the fantasy elements of the story and portrays them through raunchy, rose-colored glasses. It’s more like Gossip Girl…but make it Regency era sexy.
I loved the first two seasons, so I’m completely hooked. Still, I can’t help but be baffled by some of the story choices in this world bubble and the artistic touches that make it one of a kind. And believe me, there are plenty of them.
These are the weirdest things about Bridgerton, from a newly converted fan.
Attention, dear reader, spoilers for the first two seasons of the series are below – Yours, Lady Cowton.
There are too many bullets
Get your mind out of the gutter – I’m talking about the holidays.
As in almost every episode, there is a big ball. These are basically events designed to showcase the girls of the season, so they can find a suitor to marry and strengthen their family name.
Everyone seems to fall into some sort of choreographed waltz or prance, often accompanied by classic covers of modern pop songs. Season 3 received a lot of attention on X/Twitter because it included a rendition of Give Me Everything Tonight by Pitbull. Because of course, nothing says historical romance more than Mr. Worldwide.
These parties also highlight how completely disconnected these elites are from the real world. Let’s be clear, almost no character in Bridgerton has a real job — and those who do (like boxer Will Mondrich) don’t get enough opportunity to discuss their struggles in relation to the frivolous goings-on of the rich.
All plot points are fanfic tropes
If you’ve been on Tumblr, AO3, or Fanfiction.net, you’re probably familiar with tags like “Enemies to Lovers,” “Slow Burn,” and “Smut.” If not, stay ignorant.
Many of these online stories focus solely on a main romance, with little substance to the world around them. Bridgerton is exactly that. Its relationships are walking stereotypes, with two of the main ships immediately hating each other as soon as they meet, despite the underlying creeping tension and unnecessarily heavy breathing.
It also selects the prejudices that prevail in this world. For example, sexism looms large in the series, with most women defining success solely by who they marry, and men dismissing women’s achievements and abilities. However, it completely neglects the racism of the era in which it is set.
Like fanfiction, it’s a guilty pleasure that’s not safe to consume in public or in the presence of your parents.
Actors leaving the show are painfully obvious
The first season of Bridgerton follows the handsome and dashing Duke of Hastings, played by Regé-Jean Page, and Daphne Bridgerton, played by Phoebe Dynevor. While Dynevor was happy to return as a supporting character in the upcoming installment, Page told Vanity Fair that he only planned to do one season, and that was it. He wanted to concentrate on other projects.
His absence was not handled well by the writers. In the first season, Daphne made a huge song and dance about having her new husband by her side when she returned to London. The two were in a massive feud, but appearances were extremely important to her and they needed to show they had a strong partnership.
Today, she appears several times (with a baby no less) and her excuses for Simon’s repeated absences are as flimsy as “he’s washing his hair today” – even for large social events, like weddings. This could have been corrected slightly with a double feature filmed from behind, or by explaining that he was attending important business abroad.
Personally, I’m happy to believe that the Duke left Daphne because of the very controversial scene where she impregnated herself without his consent, but the show (and book) never referred to it as sexual assault . This brings me perfectly to…
The most dramatic moments are swept under the rug
Lady Whistledown’s narration keeps us, the viewers, informed about who’s joining forces and what other frivolous drama is going on. However, what is arguably the most dramatic plotline on paper in Season 1 is just a simple incident in the main story.
Lord Featherington is murdered by thugs, apparently by poison. However, his death is only briefly mentioned. We see some tears from his wife and sisters, only a very brief period of mourning, but no questions about how or why it happened.
This really left me quite perplexed. Because yes, this man was a deadbeat gambler and an alcoholic, but he was still a husband and father. Surely there could have been a scandalous murder mystery mixed in with our fluffy gossip? Instead, we focus on the couples getting together and who will be the new heir to the estate now that the Lord is no longer there.
The priorities of the people in this series are quite confusing.
Fashion rules are out the window
The costumes are completely crazy in Bridgerton. It’s not just that they are historically inaccurate by a few decades, it’s that they use fabrics and closures that can only truly be made in today’s modern era with machines.
This show wants us to believe that a seamstress, Madame Delacroix, can make several sumptuous dresses with only a day’s notice? Unless she has a TARDIS hidden in her tailor’s house, I very much doubt it. It’s surprising this woman isn’t more stressed.
A viewer of Karolina Żebrowska’s excellent costume video essay points out that over the past season, the dresses and hairstyles have gone from slightly over-the-top to garish Hunger Games Capitol chic – I’m looking at you, Cressida.
You have to suspend your disbelief with the costumes and most other elements of the show. If you’re willing to indulge in a superficial fantasy with a healthy dose of raunchiness, then you’ll have a great time with Bridgerton.
Still don’t like Bridgerton? Try one of Netflix’s other brilliant TV shows or movies.
Table of Contents
